Skirt-supporter.



No. 7|5,098. Patented Dec. 2, |902.

E. U. LLOYD &. W. E. B'.V PIERCE.

SKIRT SUPPORTER.

, @Application 'fixed Aug.' 19, 1902.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMA U. LLOYD AND WALTER E. B. PIERCE, OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 715,098, dated December 2, 1902 Application filed August 19, 1902.

To all wiz/0m, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELMA U. LLOYD and WALTER E. B. PIERCE, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a skirt supporter and lifter; and the object of the same is to provide a simple and eective skirt supporting and lifting means, which can be used at any time or place and with perfect ease.

The invention consists of an ordinary belt formed of leather, canvas, silk ribbon, or other material of double thickness, with the usual buckle-fastening for securing the same around the waist of the wearer and having at different points thereon a series of combined hooks and guide-eyes for a pullingcord, which is passed therethrough and for holding a skirt applied by engaging loops or buttonholes formed therein, the parts of the pulling-cord running to a common point for convenient control by the wearer of the device.

The invention further consists in the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a skirt supporter or lifter embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a clasp for coperating with the supporter and lifter. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the clasp shown by Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the combined guides and hooks, forming a part of the improved device.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral l designates a belt, which is formed of leather, canvas, silk, or other suitable material, and the usual fastening-buckle 2, whereby it may be adj ustably and removably applied to the waist of the wearer. At regular intervals on the belt are mounted a plurality of combined guides and hooks 3 (clearly shown by Fig. 4) and each consisting of a doubled wire having an upper downwardly-bent hook 4, a lower guide-eye 5, and

Serial No. 120,258. (No model.)

a front upwardlyprojecting hook 6. The hooksy 4 of the several combined devices 3 are adjustably mounted on the belt l, as clearly shown by Fig. l, with the hooks standing outwardly from the outer surface of said belt and the eyes depending below the lower edge of the belt. These combined hooks and guides can be adjusted on the belt l to compensate for the reduction or expansion of the latter. The four extremities 7 of the two cords are passed through the eyes 5 and have weights 8 attached to their lower ends to keep them in vertical taut condition, the lower terminals of the said extremities having safetypins or analogous devices 9 attached thereto for securement to the inner portion of a skirt to be operated by the improved device. The extremities 7 all depend equally from the eyes,.so that the skirt will be uniformly elevated when the extremities are drawn upwardly through the eyes, and to facilitate this simultaneous equal operation of the said extremities the two cords by which the latterformed parts are joined to each other are passed through an eyelet lO, secured to the upper side portion of the skirt, so that the joined portions of the cords may be passed through the said eyelet as a single strand, as at 1l, to the exterior of the skirt for engagement by a clasp 12, having a spring-actuated clamping-jaw 13, formed with an upper guide slot 14, through which-the strand l1 is passed downwardly in front of the jaw, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. The clasp also has a safetypin or analogous fastening l5, by which it may be applied to the exterior of the skirt and remain in positive immovable position to hold the end of the strand 11 and prevent it from passing inwardly to the interior of the skirt, and thereby always have the said strand exteriorly exposed for instant operation in elevating the extremities 7 or permitting the latter to assume a normal position.

The hooks 6 are caused to engage suitable loops or buttonholes formed in the skirt-band for supporting the latter, and it is proposed to make the improved combined hooks and eyes 3 of single pieces of wire bent into shape, as shown by Fig. 4. By having the hooks 6 engage loops or buttonholes in the waistband of a skirt the latter is supported by the belt and can be conveniently applied or worn. It

Will be understood that the belt and the cord extremities, as well as the Weights 8 and safety-pins or analogous devices 9, are fully inclosed or covered by the skirt, and the only parts exposed to the exterior are the eyelet 10 and the clasp 12.

The clasp 12 has a lower terminal hook 16 l for attachment thereto of reticules or other analogous devices,and from a bar 17, forming part of the clasp, short chain lengths 18 depend for supporting small articles.

The improved skirt supporter or lifter will be found exceptionally useful, andin its manufacture the cost is minimized in view of the comparatively few parts utilized in the production of the same.

The manner of using the improved device as a skirt-lifter will be apparent. When it is desired to elevate the skirt, the clasp is opened, so as to release the strand 11, and a pulling tension is then exerted on said strand to draw the cords comprising the same through the eyelet 10, and thereby pull upwardly on the extremities 7, and thus elevate the skirt. The clasp is then closed, and the skirt will thus be held elevated as desired without requiring the wearer to continually grasp the same. When it is desired to release the skirt, the clasp is again opened and the strand 11 is free to move inwardly through the eyelet 10 and permit the'extremities 7 to lower, and the skirt Will be restored to normal lowered position through the medium of its own weight, together with the combined weights 8, secured to the extremities 7. It is also proposed to make the cords of some strong and durable material, so that they will not become readily worn by movement through the eyes 5, and also be of such strength as to resist breaking by the weight of the skirt i'mposed thereon when said skirt is elevated.

Changes in the form, proportions, dimen' sions, and minor details may be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of .the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination with a belt, a series of combined hooks and guide-eyes mounted on the belt, cord extremities depending from and threaded through the eyes and continued into a single pull-strand, the lower ends of the cord extremities having weights and fastening devices thereon, and an exteriorly-located clasp for engagement With the said single strand.

2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a belt having a plurality of eyes depending therefrom, and hooks extending upwardly from the said eyes for engagement with the interior portion of a skirt, a series of cord extremities depending from and freely movable through the said eyes and continued into a single strand adapted to be drawn through a skirt, and a clasp for attachment to the exterior of a skirt having means for engaging the said single strand.

In testimony whereof we afx our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ELMA U. LLOYD. WALTER E. B. PIERCE. Witnesses:

F. W. NIEDMEYER, J. O. MAUPIN. 

